A Perfect Crime

A good doc detailing the unsolved murder of German politician Rohwedder during the reunification era. The interviews are relevant and good use of archival footage. The storyline jumps around a bit, but does a good job of setting the political climate. Good dubbing.

"A Perfect Crime" offers not only an interesting murder case through well directed interviews, great structure and good pacing, but also gives a deep insight of the political climate and it's effect on the economical structure and peoples life in East Germany after the fall of the DDR. It engages the viewer by encouraging to draw your own conclusion of the murder through interviewing several people with diffrent perspectives, all making good cases for their perception of the events that took place. It's neatly edited and looks great most of the time. The only downsides of the documentary are small inconsistencies of the reconstructed scenes, where in some scenes there is cleary put effort into making it look authentic, but sometimes is just clearly taking place in the modern time. However this is quickly overshadowed as it is just a minor flaw that doesn't hinder the viewer in any way of enjoying the documentary. All in all it is more than just a murder case, but an important timepiece of german history.

...and, as an East-German, who had to wait 30 years for a docu-series (or really much of anything in the media in general) that actually managed to present a balanced representation of the politics and social and economic complexities surrounding the so-called "reunification" of Germany, I say, "Kudos to the filmmakers".

This part of German history has always been presented from a one-sided viewpoint. Parallel to (although maybe not quite the same as), "history is written by the victorious".

The one thing that bugs me is the English title and Netflix's decision to cast this as a true crime series. It is so much more a history docu, and a politically charged one at that. And, in that, it succeeds.

For what it's worth this is a bit of an unsatisfying true crime story but actually it's so much more than that! If you are actually German, you absolutely have to watch this (my opinion), it's a jewel! I'm afraid for almost everyone else it might be interesting but of little relevance ...

When these events took place, I was barely a teenager and very much busy with myself. I had noticed how my parents were struggling to find their way after everything had turned upside down but they did a good job in keeping it away from us (children). I simply wasn't aware just how traumatic the experience must have been for at least half of the East-German population. I was aware that the western politicians arrogantly dismissed everything that was done or made in the GDR and they surely have not foreseen the damage they would inflict. Until this day (30 years later) the results of it can be seen heard and felt. Several generations of East- Germans were traumatized and have passed this feeling along to their children. There is still a rift going through this country which now manifests itself in the success of the AfD (right wing populist party) after the leftists (Ex-"Communists") have failed to deliver any kind of consolation over the past three decades.

Ah, "A Perfect Crime" (2020), the documentary that ambitiously sets out to untangle Germany's most notorious post-war murder case, but sometimes feels like it's tying itself in knots instead. It's the cinematic equivalent of a detective donning a Sherlock Holmes hat, only to find out it's a size too small. The series is commendable for its attempt to dive deep into the intricacies of the murder of Detlev Rohwedder, an event wrapped in layers of political intrigue and conspiracy theories as thick as a German winter coat. However, it occasionally trips over its own narrative shoelaces, leaving viewers to ponder whether the mystery is truly unfolding or just folding onto itself.

Why is it just "ok"? Picture this: you're on a scenic train journey through the heart of Germany's tumultuous post-reunification period, but every now and then, the train stops to admire a particularly mundane bush. That's "A Perfect Crime" for you. It masterfully sets the stage with a compelling premise and intriguing historical context, only to sometimes lose steam with pacing that feels more like a leisurely stroll through a museum of slightly unrelated events. It's like being handed a puzzle where some pieces are from another box, making you wonder if you're assembling a portrait of political intrigue or just a very complex picture of a pretzel.

Yet, despite its meandering plot and occasional detours into the weeds, "A Perfect Crime" does have its moments of brilliance. Its detailed exploration of the socio-political climate of the time is nothing short of fascinating, offering a peek into the soul of a country at a crossroads. The documentary serves up a mix of interviews, archival footage, and re-enactments that are sometimes as gripping as a cold hand on your shoulder in a dark room. In essence, it's like a detective novel that's had a bit too much schnitzel - a little heavy at times, but ultimately satisfying in a peculiar way. So, while it may not be the sleek, streamlined crime story we all hoped for, it's a curious, if slightly cluttered, journey through one of Germany's darkest mysteries. Three and a half stars for making me feel like an armchair detective with a penchant for history and a tolerance for narrative detours.